Abstract: Disclosed is a soil sampling tool having a barrel and a plug in the barrel for expelling a soil sample from the barrel. In the improvement, the plug is imperforate and includes a frangible section attached to the barrel. When the soil sample is expelled as, e.g., into a lab vial, force is applied to the plug, breaking the frangible section and urging the plug and the soil sample out of the barrel. Since it is imperforate, the plug prevents VOC vapors from migrating out of the mouth portion and the barrel is thereby made suitable for a single use and is disposable. The advantages include avoidance of sample "cross-contamination." A new method for analyzing a soil sample including the steps of providing a sampling tool having a barrel, a mouth portion and a plug retained in the barrel by a frangible section. The mouth portion is filled with a soil sample and the plug is urged toward the mouth portion, thereby breaking the frangible section and expelling the soil sample from the tool.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tool-like cartridge for preserving a soil sample which may be contaminated with a volatile organic compound (VOC). The cartridge includes a barrel and a plug in the barrel for sealing the barrel proximal end during and after sampling and for later expelling the soil sample from such barrel. A threaded portion is on the barrel for attaching a handle and such portion has an opening through it. From the moment of sample extraction until later sample expulsion for analysis, the plug and its resilient seal member substantially prevent vaporized VOC from escaping from the cartridge. A new method for obtaining a soil sample for analysis is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a soil sampling tool of the type having a handle and a cylindrical sampling barrel with an aperture in the upper end. An ejector extends through the aperture and is attached to a plunger for urging the soil sample out of the barrel. In the improvement, the ejector and aperture define an annular clearance between them so that when a soil sample is taken (and the plunger thereby urged toward the barrel upper end), air can exhaust from the barrel. The plunger includes a boss which extends into and seals the aperture when the plunger is at or near its uppermost position. In that way, vapors of volatile organic compounds are prevented from escaping through the aperture. The tool also includes a cap for sealing the lower end of the barrel so that such vapors cannot escape from the barrel.